Turkish opposition says appealing referendum on Erdogan powers

23 April 2017, 02:22 | Stacy Allen

Turkish opposition says appealing referendum on Erdogan powers

Prior to the day of the YSK day of decision, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) stated it would take the issue to Turkey's Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights if the board rejected its appeal against the popular vote to bring in an executive presidency with sweeping powers.

The CHP has led the criticism of the April 16 referendum result, particularly the YSK's decision to include ballot papers unverified by local electoral boards in the count.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planning to meet his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump next month, hoping for stronger ties with the United States after being "deceived" by ex-President Barack Obama.

"We are filing an appeal to the Council of State today demanding the cancellation of the Supreme Electoral Board's decision", CHP Deputy Chairman Bülent Tezcan said in a statement.

Any challenge by the European Court of Human Rights against the results of the Turkish referendum would be rejected by Ankara's constitutional court, a senior official has said. A former Istanbul mayor who became prime minister in 2003, he represents a class of pious Muslims, many in rural areas, who chafed under a hardline secular order that was set in motion by Ataturk during his nation-building project.

Global observers had said the decision to count the ballots "contradicted the law" and removed a safeguard against fraud. "We will employ all legal ways available", Tezcan said.

He added the CHP meant to employ all legal ways to challenge the result, including Turkey's Constitutional Court as well as European Court of Human Rights.

Asked to comment on the CHP's move, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the election authority's decision was final and that attempts to challenge it in the courts would be futile.

Yildirim added: "The people have made their decision".

Supporters of the "NO" vote, ( "Hayir" in Turkish) participate in a protest against the referendum outcome, in Istanbul, Friday, April 21, 2017.

The eroding personality cult of Ataturk suffered its biggest blow yet when Turkey voted April 16 to expand the powers of the presidency, undercutting the parliamentary system that Ataturk imposed almost a century ago.

Global monitors say the electoral board's decision removed an important safeguard against fraud and was "contrary to Turkish law".

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